Pbopeller-hub spioteb



May 8, 1928.

E. G. MCCAULEY PROPELLER HUB SPINNBR Filed July 23, 1925 INVENTOR Ew/5,67' Ci /VAz/Lf: y BYf/? ATTORNEY Patented May S, i928.

rasierer ose ERNEST Gr. MCCAULEY, F DAYTON, OHIO.

PROEELLER-HUB SPINNER.

Application filed J'uly 23, 1925. Serial No. 745,546'.

lining the hub portion of the propeller,.

which enables quick and easy access to all parts of the hub for purposes of adjusting the pitch of the propeller in the case of an adjustable or semi-adjustable pitch propeller, or otherwise for enabling inspection or repair of the propeller hub, or when renioving a propeller from the ship.

Another ob `ect of the invention is to provide a spinner structure of minimum weight and maximum simplicity providing for the object above referred to and wherein provision is made for a quick detachable crankA ing connection for cranking the engine by spinning the propeller. 1

These and other objects of the invention will be made to appear in the course of the following description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. l is a central longitudinal section of a spinner structure applied to a propeller hub in accordance with my invention.

F ig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary elevational detail of the hub fairing constituting a part of the spinner structure.

Fig. 23 is an enlarged fragii'ientary sectional detail of the means utilized for securing the fairing sections together, and

Fig. et is an enlarged fragmentary seotional detail of a means utilized to prevent relative rotation between a part of the spinner structure and the propeller hub.V

Spinners heretofore used haveall invariably utilized complicated means for fairing the propeller hub and Wlieie access to the hub was necessary as in the case of changing the pitch of an adjustable or semi-ad justable pitch propeller or for other purposes such asl inspection or repair, or when the propeller was to be removed'froin the ship, a very tedious operation Was involved as the fairing was secured by a great number of small bolts and screws. The operation of removing` the fairing in such cases might well consumev av half day or more, Whereas with my improved spinner structure it is possible to secure complete access to the hub for the purposes mentioned in the space V of a few minutes and .with the performance of a few comparatively easy wrench operations.

Generally speaking, my invention provides a split fairing, the halves of which are detachably held together at their front and rear edges about the propeller hub between a pair ot discs mounted rigidly in front and behind the propeller, the mounting for the rear disc permitting the backing away of the disc from the fairing to enable its removal. 1 have also provided a rigid support for the air piercing cone ofthe spinner which is made rigid with the propeller hub and has provided at its outer end a means for making a detachable driving connection With the propeller to spin the same in cranking the engine.

Referring now to the drawing, the blades of a semi-adjustable propeller are adjustably lined in the hub 11. The latter is usually formed in two sections having clamping bands 12 at the outer ends thereof to secure the hub sections together With the blades in proper pitch adjustment in the hub. The bands 12 are split and have bolts 13 to secure the desired clamping el'ect. In adjusting the pitch of the propeller, it is j necessary to secure access to the bolts 13 in order to loosen the saine after which the blades may be turned to the desired pitch when the bolts are again tightened to secure the saine in the adjusted position. The speciic details whereby the adjustment of pitch is secured are of no special consequence in this case and need not thereforebe further described. It will suffice to state lthat the hub sections are fixed against turning with respect to an engine shaft sleeve 14. The two halves are held by a cone nut 15 threading on the sleeve 14 and jamming the two sections together in centered relation on the sleeve le? against a conical shoulder provided at 1G on the sleeve 14.

The spinner comprises an air piercing cone 17 .in front of the hub 1l, and a hub fairing 18 forming a continuation of the cone 17 about the hub 11 and the blades 10, which protrude through openings 19 in the fairing 18. The cone 17 is formed of sheet metal and has an inturiied flange 20 setting against a shoulder 21 at thc forward end of a central tubular support 22, which extends forwardly kfrom the. hub 11, and is rigidly fixed in relation to the hub by a threaded connection at 23 on the forward end of the sleeve 14. The forward end of the cone 17 is detachably secured to the support 22 by a. cone nut 24: threading on the outer end of the support 29 as shown.

.and rear edges oi? the fair-ing 18.

. washer 35.

y22 in front of the shoulder 21. The nut 24 is machined as indicated at 25 to provide lugs to make detachable driving connections with a coupling such as is commonly employed to engage the hub o1' an airplane propeller for spinning the same in starting the engine. The nut 24 is suitably locked b v a wire ring or clip 24 as shown. It will be apparent that the drive in cranking is d1- rectly through the support 22 to the propeller hub.

The fairing 18 consists of two sheet metal parts notched at their adjoining edges so that when placed together they provide openings of the configuration shown at 19 to lit about the end ot the propeller hub and about the shank of the propeller blades. The fair-ing sections are secured together by links 26 fittingover studs 27 mounted in the sections near their adjoining edges in the manner shown in Fig. The studs 27 receive nuts 28 for securing the sections permanently together. A pair oi discs 29 and 3() respectively form the supports ior the front The Al'ront disc 29 which, like the rear disc 30 is oi" sheet metal, has its peripheral edge bent forward- 'ly to provide a flange 31, the edge oi which is bent back upon itself as shown at 32, leaving an annular recess 38 to receive the forward edge of the lairing 18. The cone 17 has a sliding wedging lit over the disc The tairing 18 when seated in the recess 33 forms a continuation oit the cone 17 and is approximately flush therewith. The disc 29 is maintained in rigid relation with the hub l1 by a mit 84 and The nut 34 threads upon the sleeve 14 jamming the washer 35 with the disc 29 against the cone nut 15 previously referred to. Another washer 36 is interposed between the nut 34 and the threaded end 23 ot' the support tube 22.

, The disc 3() is dished to lit over the rear side of the hub 11 and the clamping bands 12 as shown, and has its peripheral edge bentrearwardly to provide a flange 37. the edge ot which bent upon itself as indicated at 38 leaving a second annular recess 39 concentric with the annular recess 83 wherein the rearward edge ot the lairing 18 is titted. The disc 3() approaches the t'airing 18 trom `behind the hub and is held in position h v a mit 4() which threads upon the sleeve 14 and jams the disc 30 against a shoulder 41 provided on the sleeve 14. A wire ring or clip 42 may be provided to prevent accidental loosening of the nut 40. The disc 8() is prevented it'rom rotating relative to the hub by the engagement of studs 42 in openings 43 provided in the lange 41. The studs 42 are riveted to the disc 3() as shown at 44. An

auxiliary sheet metal ring 45 is provided The disc 29 may be held from rotating in a similaimanner. It is found that where no provision is made to prevent relative rotation between the discs and the hub, the angular accelerat-ions of the propeller cause the discs-to assume a position with the fair-ing 18 where these parts are driven by Contact with the propeller h'lades or with the hub of the propeller, and in extreme'cases the fairing either mars the blades or hub, or the edges of the openings 19 in the fairing become peened, leaving a raised edge. A further complication resulting from a relative rotation of the parts with respect to the .hub is that it renders it less easy to remove the itairing when it is desired to have access to the hub as the parts become jammed and wedged in position and. are not easily withdrawn. 1 have foundthat by providing the tairing 18 of relatively light sheetrmetal, there is sufficient iexibility so that the iairing is easily spread to enter the forward edge into the recess 33 or to remove the tairing therefrom. I also provide sutlicient clearance between the edges of the airing sections to enable a slight cramping when the rearward edge is made to enter the recess 39. Y

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a very simple, light and economical spinner construction wherein the parts are rigidly supported 1n proper position streamlining the propeller hub, while at the same time access can be easily had. to the propeller hub for removing the propeller or adjusting and lixing the pitch of the propeller as desired. My arrangement further provides for a simple detachable cranking connection.

1 claim:

1. The combination with a propeller of a spinner comprising an air piercing cone n1 i'ront ot the propeller, a circular fairing forminol aV continuation of said cone about the huli oit' the propeller, and means for quickly detaohably holding said fairing in assembled relation to said hub comprising a part movable on and oii' one edge of said lairing and arranged to be locked in holding position relative thereto.

2. The combination with a propeller of a spinner comprising an air piercing cone in front of .the propeller, a circular fairing forming a continuation of said'cone about the hub of the propeller, and means for quic'kly detachably holding said fairing at its ifi-ont and rear edges comprising two parts movable on and off the opposite edges of said fairing.

The combination with a propeller' of a spinner comprising an air piercing cone in front ofthe propeller, a circular fairing forming a continuation of said cone about the hub ot the propeller, and means for quickly detachably holding said fairing at a continuation of saidv cone about `cone in Afront of thepropeller, a central support .extending forward from the hub of said propeller, and supporting said cone at its apex, a fairing constituting an extension of said cone about the hub of the propeller, and means for supporting said fairing comprising discs in front of and behind said hub, the forward disc serving as a. support for the rearward end of said cone.

'.l`he combination with a propeller of a spinner comprising a hollow air piercing cone in front of the propeller, a central support` for said cone extending forwardly from the hub of the propeller and supporting said conc at its apex, a circular fairing forming the hub of the propeller, and means tor quickly detachably holding lsaid fairing at its front and rear edges comprising a pair otl discs in front of and behind said propeller, the forward disc being ixed and serving to supportI the rear end of said cone and the front. edge of said fairing, the rear disc supporting tue rear edge of said fairing and being movable behind the propeller to permit letachability of said fairing.

The combination with a. propeller otl a central support extending forwardly from the hub of the propeller, a disc rigidly mounted in front of the propeller hub'at the rear end-of said support, a cone member' fitting at itsrear edge on said and means for holding' said cone member on said support at its forward end.

7. The combination with a propeller of a central support extending forwardly from the hub of the propeller, a disc rigidly mounted in front of the propeller hub at the rear edge of said support, a cone niem-v ber .fitting at its rear edge on said disc, means for holding said cone member on said snpport at its forward end, a disc movably mounted behind said propeller hub, and a circular fairing forming a continuation of said cone member about the propeller hub and supported between the forward and rearward disc for quick detachability.

S. The combination with a propeller of a central support extending forwardly from the hub of the propeller, a disc rigidly mounted in front of the propeller hub at the rear end of said support, a cone member fitting at its rear edge on said disc, means for holding ysaid cone member on said support at its forward end, a disc movably mounted behind said propeller hub, a circular fairing forming a. continuation of said cone member about the propeller hub and supported between the forward and rearward discs for quick detacha-bility, and means for holding yone of said discs from turning relative to said hub.

9. 'the combination with a propeller of a central support extending forwardly from the hub of the propeller, a disc rigidly mounted in front of the propeller hub at the rear end of said support, a cone member having a ysliding fit at its rea-r edge on said disc, means .for holding said cone member on said support at its forward end, a disc movably mounted behind said propeller hub, a circular fairing forming a continuation of said cone member about the propeller hub and supported between the forward and rearward discs for quick detachability, and means for holding one of said discs from turning relative to -said hub, said means comprising pins rigid with said dises for entering sockets provided on said hub.

lt). The combination with a propeller of a central support extending forwardly from the hub of the propeller, a. circular sheet metal disc tixed with respect to said hub in front thereof at the rear end of said support, said disc having its periphery bent into the form of an outwardly tapering annular liange and a sheet metal cone member having a wedging tit at its rear edge on the flange of said disc and supported at its apex on said central support.

tl. The combination with a propeller of a central support extending forwardly from the hub of the. propeller, a circular sheet meta disc tixed with respect to said hub in front thereof at the rear end of said support, said disc having its periphery bent into the form of an outwardly tapering annular flange, the edge of which is turned back upon itself to provide an annular recess, a sheetinetal cone member having its rear edge fitting over the flange of said discr and supported at its apex on said central support, a second sheet metal disc removably fixed in relation to said hub behind the same and having the periphery thereof bent inwardly in the form of an outwardly tapering flange, the edge of vwhich is bent back upon itself to provide a second annular recess coaxial with the first annular recess, and a sheet metal fairing fitting about the hub of the propeller forn'iing a. continuation of said cone member and having its front and rear edges received in said annular recesses.

l2. The combination with a propeller and a hub therefor having means enabling the changing and xing of the pitch of the propeller, of a spinner comprising a front cone portion arranged to be fixed in relation to said hub, and a quickly detachable fair-ing constituting a continuation of said cone about the hub of the propeller, said fairing comprising separable portions held together detachably at their adjoining edges iol) and demountably in assembled relation at their front and rear edges.

13. The combination with a propeller of a spinner comprising an air piercing cone in front of the propeller, a circular fairing to removably enclose the hub of said propeller and form a continuation of said cone, a member at the back of said cone having a recess to receive thc forward edge of said fairing, a second member having a recess therein to receive the rear edge of said fairing, and means for holding said mcn'ibcrs to retain said fair-ing` therebetween.

let. The combination with a propeller of a spinner structure coi'iiprising a central ysupport extending forward from the propeller and rigid therewith, a pair of discs, one in'imediately in front of said propeller and the otherv immediately behind the same, a cone supported at its tip on said central supportand at its base on the front disc, and a circular fairingl constituting a continuation of said cone about the hub of the propeller and supported by the said discs.

l5. The combination of a spinner for the hub of an aircraft propeller comprising a. circular plate fastened to the hub in the rear thereof, a circular fairing adapted for fitting over the propeller and for telescopic engagement with the plate, a second plate provided with an aperture for fitting over the hub and in engagen'ient with the fail-ing, means on the hub for eng-inging said second plate, a conical nose piece terminating in an apex and adapted for telescopic engagement with the fairing, and a bolt engaging the hub for further holding said nose piece in position.

16. The combination of a spinner for the hub of an aicraft propeller comprising a circular plate fastened to the hub behind the propeller, a frustro-conical section enclosing the hub, means for joining the plate and and means for detachably engaging Said nose piece to the hub.

lb, The combination as set forth in the claim 17 with the additional element of means for rigidly associating the second plate of the frustro-conical section with the hub.

i9. The combination with a propeller of a spinner comprising an air piercing cone in front of the propeller, a frusto conical fairing forming a continuation of said cone about the hub of the propeller, a circular plate provided with a conical flange mounted behind said hub for supporting said fairing. said cone having a sliding tit at its base end on said fairing and means for holding said cone member rigidly in place.

2U. ln combination with a propeller having a hub, a stream-lined spinner structure and a sleeve positioned Within said hub of means on said sleeve for securing said spinner structure to said sleeve.

2l. A. propeller having a hub comprising in combination a streamslined spinner structure, designed to be driYen by external means, enclosing said hub, and a concial member, said conical member forn'iing the apex and driving connection of said spinner structure for spinning the propeller in starting the engine.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ERNEST G. MCCAULEY. 

